Chapter One: Heir:

New changes began on October first.

Noiz was visiting another campus for a writing workshop that morning. The night before, she had been feeling a little sick. She couldn’t understand why as much as she tried to figure it out. Even her husband, Mosh, took notice.

“Think you should cancel the workshop?” he asked. “They’ll understand if you’re not feeling well.” Noiz insisted otherwise.

“They expect me there!” she said. “I have to show up.”

“But if you’re really sick…” he said.

“I’ll be fine in the morning,” she insisted. Mosh said nothing, but didn’t seem to believe her. He sat up in bed and watched her tightly.

“Alright, but promise me you’ll see a doctor afterwards,” he said.

“I’m telling you, I’ll be fine!” Noiz insisted.

“Promise me!” the mouse pressed. The kitty sighed.

“Fine, I will,” she said. Mosh smiled and bowed his head at her.

“Thank you,” he breathed out.

“Right…” Noiz mumbled. “Whatever.”

“No, not whatever!” he barked. “This could be a stomach virus or something!” Noiz smiled and sat on the bed before.

“Awww, baby,” she cooed. “It’s probably a mild bug, okay?”

“See a doctor, anyway,” he murmured. Noiz gave him a small smile.

“Okay,” she said. The kitty kissed him on the nose. “Good night,” she whispered. Mosh kissed her on the forehead before they went to bed.

Fast forward to today.

So far, the morning went by without incident. Noiz felt a little sick, but she did her best to keep it down. A couple of the teachers began to ask questions.

“Are you sure you are okay?” they asked. Noiz just waved them off.

“I’m fine,” she murmured. The build took its slow time throughout the rest of the morning. The breaking point came when Noiz and the principal of the Tokyo private school took a tour around the tea garden. The principal walked around with glee as she kept talking onwards.

“This very garden was a gift from my grandfather,” she bragged. “This is why it is so dear to my heart and this one of this school’s top prides!” Noiz nodded.

“It sure is beautiful,” she said. “How do you keep it looking so good year after year?” The principal, Hashimoto-san had a gleam in her smile.

“With great care and nature under the right elements,” she said. Noiz took all of that in mind as she formed the ideas for her own academy in her own head.

“You don’t say,” she said.

“Yes ma’am,” Hashimoto-san replied. Suddenly, Noiz-san felt it hit once again. She put her hand to her mouth as she felt her jaw tighten up with small movements. The cat raced over to the edge of the red bridge and threw up in the koi pond. The principal raced over to her side.

“Noiz-san?” she asked. The cat still kept throwing up. Hashimoto-san leaned down to her.

“Are you alright?” she asked. Noiz threw up again before answering.

“Yeah,” she said in choked whisper. She panted as the principal helped her away from the edge.

“Here, just take a seat here,” Hashimoto-san said as she sat her down on a stone bench. Noiz panted as the sickness splashed in her stomach. She watched the kitty headmistress for a long moment.

“You okay now?” she asked. The kitty nodded as she shut her eyes.

“Did I get any on my kimono?” she asked. Hashimoto-san took a moment to look.

“Not that I can see,” she said. “How long have you been sick like this?”

“About two weeks now,” Noiz answered. “Why?”

“Anything else?” the principal asked. The kitty gave her puzzled look as she thought about that question for a moment.

“I’ve been hungry for udon for the past couple of days,” she replied. “I’ve been kind of nauseated off and on.”

“How are your breasts?” Hashimoto-san asked. Noiz looked at her blinking.

“Huh?” she asked.

“Have they been tender? Swollen?” the other woman asked intently.

“I guess…” Noiz said with a really lost look her eyes. “Why are you asking me all of this?” Hashimoto-san’s face lit up brighter than the sun.

“Oh, that’s how I was when I had my son three years ago,” she chirped. It took Noiz a moment to get what she was telling her.

“Wait, you think I’m…” she said. The kitty quickly shook her head.

“No,” she said. “I can’t be! I’m on the pill!” Hashimoto-san shrugged at her.

“It’s possible,” she said. “It actually has happened before.” Noiz looked slightly panicked now. She slowly rose to her feet with big eyes.

“I…” she said. “I… I don’t know what to say.” The principal looked at the garden clock.

“Oh, look at the time!” she said. “Let’s go get lunch. We probably should get you something light in your stomach.” Noiz gave him a rather confused look on her face.

“Okay…” she mumbled. Hashimoto-san grabbed her by the hand and led her back to the cafeteria.

Noiz sat near the window, eating her chicken udon under worry. Good Noiz sat at the table with her, smirking. She had been following her throughout most of the morning. The headmistress had just now spotted her.

“You’re worried about it, aren’t you?” she asked.

“No,” Noiz lied with gritted test.

“But you are,” the angel kitty said. Her counterpart tightly clutched her chopsticks.

“No, I’m not,” she hissed.

“It’s all over your face,” Good Noiz pointed out.

“Shut up!” her owner yelled. The angel kitty smiled for a long moment.

“Why don’t you settle it then?” she suggested. Noiz gave her an odd look.

“You mean…” she said. The angel cat nodded.

“I mean, what do you have to lose?” she asked. Noiz nodded in response.

“True…” she murmured. She looked up at her angelic counterpart. “Should I go by the hospital?” Noiz whispered. Good Noiz gave her a little shrug.

“I would go there,” she said. Her master sat back, thinking.

“I see,” she whispered. Good Noiz smiled at her as she already knew the answer. Yet, she wouldn’t tell her master just yet. It seemed much more entertaining if for her to learn the truth on her own.

By three o’clock, Noiz and Good Noiz went to the doctor’s office. The angel stood beside of her.

“I could hold your hand if you want,” she whispered. Her master only waved her off.

“Johnson-san!” the doctor called as she walked into the room. The headmistress looked up at the sound of her voice.

“Yes?” she asked. “What are my results?” The doctor closed the door behind her. She paced herself before taking in a deep breath. Noiz didn’t like her tone at all.

“It’s bad, isn’t?” she asked.

“Yes, the results are positive,” she said. The kitty paused, staring at her.

“What?” she asked. The doctor nodded at her.

“You are pregnant,” she said. Noiz had the eyes of a frightened rabbit when she heard those words.

“Are you sure?” she asked. The doctor nodded.

“Yes,” she said. Noiz battled to find the right words to say.

“Excuse me,” she said. Then, she reached into her bag, grabbed her phone, and rushed out the hall.

“Miss?” she asked. Noiz dialed her house and waited.

“Come on, please pick up,” she mumbled.

“Hello?” she heard on the other line. The cat breathed out in slight relief. She took a second to recollect herself.

“Mosh-kun,” she began in a clam, but shaking voice. “Are you sitting down right now?”

“No… why?” her husband replied. Noiz took in a deep breath.

“Please sit down somewhere,” she said, voice still trembling.

“Noiz-sama?” he asked.

“Just do it!” she shouted.

“Okay, okay,” the mouse boy said. Noiz tapped her foot as she waited.

“Are you sitting down now?” she asked.

“Just about,” he said.

“Please hurry!” his wife pleaded.

“Alright,” Mosh said. A few more seconds passed between them.

“Okay,” the mouse said. “I’m sitting down now. What is it?” The kitty gulped and tried to gather up her words again.

“Mosh-kun,” she said. “I’m pregnant.”